Self-feeding sectional heater.



W. S. MCMULLAN.

SELF FEEDING SEGTIONAL HEATER.

Patented D90. I0, l90l.

(Application 1115a ma 10, 1901.

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

me NORRIS PUERS 00.. FHOTQ LITHO., WASHINGTON.

No. 688,324. Patented Dec. l0, l90l.

w. s. McMULLAN. SELF FEEDING SECTIDN AL HEATER.

(Application filed May 16, 1901. (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

2. 02 d IIVVEIVTOH,

\Mbmiownl mmmmw BY M ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PET-ENS 00.. PHOTCLLITHQ.WASKINGTOPL n c.

w. s. McM'ULLAN. 'SELF FEEDING 'SEOTIONAL HEATER.

' A lication filed May-16, 1901. I (No Model.) 4-Shaots-Shaet a.

lMl/EflTOfl, WiMAmj/W SMMWWM, BY W Arron/m 1m: Norms mus m, mm'wm.wnanmcmu. D. c

No. 688,324. v Patented Dec/l0, l90l.' S. MGMULLAN.

SELF FEEDING SECTIONAL HEATER;

(Application filed. May'ifi, 1901. (No Model J I 4 Sheeta$heet 4.

m: mums PETER! c0. Fuomuwa, wAsnluaYom u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

\VILLIAM S. MOMULLAN, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

SELF-FEEDING SEC TlONAL HEATER.

$PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,324, dated December10, 1901.

Applioationfiled May 16, 1901. Serial No. 60,585. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. MoMUL- 'LAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at location of the fuel-reservoir with respect to thecombustion-chamber and drafteflues.

My improvements are particularly desirable in that class ofsteam-generators and hotwater heaters in which coke' is used as fuel,such generators and heaters being thus rendered self-feeding;

For the purpose of explaining the said invention with greater clearnessthe annexed sheets of drawings have been provided, whioh- Figure 1 is afront View of a steam-generator embodying this present invention, thesaid view being chiefly in elevation, but having the front broken awayin part to disclose the interior construction of said generator. Fig. 2is a vertical sectional view of said generator, taken on line 2 2 ofsaid Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the same,showing the major portion of the generator, taken on line 3 3. Fig. 4 isa perspective view of the upper portion of the front section and of thefront plate of saidgenerator. Fig. 5 shows in vertical section theash-pit with a single grate-bar mounted therein and also illustrates anintermediate boiler-section mounted upon the said ash-pit. Fig. 6 is afront side elevationof the front section; and Fig. 7 is across-sectional view of the combined intermediate' and front sections,taken onlines 7 7 of Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a front side elevation ofthe so-called bridge-wall section, and Fig. 9 is a similar view of theso-called back section of the generator. Fig. 10 is a crosssectionalview of the combined bridge-wall section and back section, taken onlines 10 10 of Figs. 8 and 9. In Fig. -11 is illustrated the upperportion of an intermediate section Each of the several sections is casthollow, so I .as to provide water-legs that extend downward'on oppositesides of the fire-pot and so as to form a water-chamber immediately overthe fire-pot and combustion-chamber. The several sections are connectedon opposite sides, by means of nipples, to manifold pipes, thusproviding an unobstructed water connection between the said sections.Immediately over the generator and extending from front to rear of thesame is a steam-dome that is connected with each and all of the severalsections by nipples. The front section and the several intermediatesections are formed in their upper central. portions with openings thatregister when the several sections are assembled, and thus provide alarge chamber immediately over the combustion-chamber that may serve asa storage chamber or reservoir for coke or other fuel. Particularattention has been given to the location of this fuel-reservoirrelatively to the ifire-pot, combustionchamber, and draft-fines in orderthat the best caloric results shall be obtained from the fuel consumedand also to insure the perfect and automatic distribution of said fuelthroughout the fire-pot.

The front section is best illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings and isindicated as a whole by the letter a. It has draft-fines a'a', openingsa a through which the series of arms 6 (which are a part of theintermediate sections located in the combustion-chamber) may be reachedand cleaned of any accumulations of the products of combustion, also anopening of, through which fuel may be passed to the reservoir, and alower opening a leading into the fire-pot. It should be noted that theface of the front section a, which is illustrated in said Fig. 6, is theinner or rear face of said sect-iou-that is to say, the face thatconfronts the fuel-reservoir when the several sections are assembled.The opposite or outer face of said section a is substantially flat andis best seen in Fig. 1.

Secured to the front section a by bolts or otherwise is a plate 1), onwhich is hinged a drop-door b, that covers the entrance to thefuel-reservoir, also doors 1) b through which the arms e and thedraft-fines may be reached for the purpose of cleaning. A fire-pot door11 is also mounted on the front of section a.

The so-callcd back section of this new form of generator is illustratedin Fig. 9 and is indicated as a whole by the letter 0. It hasdraft-fines c and is preferably recessed to about one-half its thicknesson its front face, as at 0 The bridge-wall section is illustrated inFig. 8 and is indicated by the letter (Z. This section has a recess (1,that forms the rear portion of the fuel-reservoir, and upper and lowerdraftrflues d (Z which will be referred to more fully later on. Thelower portion of section (I is formed with a hollow web d, that isconnected with the sides or legs of the section and serves as thebridgewall at the rear of the fire-pot. The said web (1" is connectedwith water-legs forming the opposite sides of the section by hollow armsor pipes (1 that are cast integral with the section. The web (l ischambered through above and below the pipes (Z in order that theproducts of combustion may readily pass rearward and upward from thecombustion-chamber, as will be explained later.

In Fig. 5 is shown one of the intermediate sections, the same beingdenoted by the reference-letter 6. This section is chambered completelythrough, as at e, to provide a part of the'fuel-reservoir, also as at eto provide for the fire-pot. Draft-openin gs e 6, corresponding to thoseof the bridge-wallsection, are provided in section 6, and inclinedhollow arms or pipes c are also provided, like the described pipes d ofthe said bridge-wall section.

The top of the combustion chamber is marked by the lines 7 7 in Figs. 5and 7 and by the line 10 10 in Fig. 8;

Particular notice is now directed to certain narrow webs or fin-likeprojections that form an important'featu re on each of the describedsections. These projections are indicated on the front section by theletter or", on the intermediate section by e, and on the bridgewallsection by d. When the several sections are assembled, these projectionsregister with each other and complete the side walls of thefuel-reservoir. This construction not only increases the capacity of thefuel-reservoir by adding to its depth, but it renders more importantservice by discharging the fuel well down in said combustion-chamber andpreventing the fuel from completely filling and clogging saidCOIIlbllSlilOlJ-Chfilllbfilfi.

projections a 6 d serve to prevent the fuel from rising too high at thesides of the firepot, thus leaving at all times considerable open spacefor combustion purposes between the said projections and the water-legsof the several sections-i. 6., the open space indicated by a. in Fig. 6.

The arrangement of draft-Hues is best seen in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. The smoke and other waste products pass from front to rear onboth sides of the generator through the openings a and between the armsd (2 until the rear section is reached, when said products are deflectedupward (see Fig. 2) and pass thence to the front through the lower fiuesd e, where they are again deflected upward and caused to return to therear of the heater through the upper fiues d 6 where they are dischargedthrough an exit f. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The area of the fines and thedistance traveled by the products of combustion from thecombustion-chamber to the exit are proportioned on scientific principlesbased upon the quantity and quality of fuel under combustion. Thelocation of the fuel-reservoir is such that the fuel is highly heatedbefore it is discharged into the fire-pot; but because of the fact thatthe fuelchamber has no outlet (other than a slight seepage through whichaccumulated gases may escape into the draft-fines) excepting its lowerdischargeopening into the fire-pot combustion, and consequentdisintegration of the fuel, cannot take 'place 'within thefuelreservoir.

In the operation of the described generator fire is first started on thegrate through firedoor a and after 'a suflieient body of fire isobtained the fuel-reservoir is then filled with coke or other suitablefuel through the door I), the said reservoir being refilled daily. Asthe burning fuel becomes disintegrated and reduced to ashes a freshsupply moves downward from the reservoir by graVity'and passes laterallybeyond the lower edges of the side walls a e (1 until the fresh coals orcoke cover the entire body of fire from front to rear section, and thisautomatic feeding of the fuel is repeated as often as the consuming fuelneeds to be replenished. The relation be tween the primeheati'ng surfaceand the fire is such that the best possible results areobtained from thefuel under combustion. Furthermore, the automatic feeding of the fuelwhich is provided for preventsany possibility of the combustion-chamberbecoming filled or choked by the prematu re or excessive feeding of saidfuel.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a steam-generatorof the class referred to, acentrally-located fuel-reservoir extending the entire length of thegenerator, and having side walls that extend downwardly into a thecombustion-chamber toprevent the filling and clogging of saidcombustion-chamber.

2. A front and rear section and a multiple of intermediate sections,theintermediate sections having registering central openings that form afuel-reservoir which extends the entire length of the generator, theside walls of said fuel-reservoir being extended downwardly, into thecombustion-chamber as, and for the purpose, specified.

3. In a steam-generator, front and rear sections and a plurality ofintermediate sections having alining apertures in their upper centralportions, abutting flanges formed on their front and rear faces andextending down into the fire-box, to provide a fuel-receptacle and aduplex system of draft-fines arranged on either side of the centralaperture in the intermediate sections.

WILLIAM S. MOMULLAN.

Witnesses:

ALONZO M. LUTHER, FRANK H. ALLEN.

